carribean vs the other side

[Zephyrcat229]

oh for the love of peat!
a lot of these folks act like they've never heard the term "Wage Slave." basically a compulsion toward materialism that leads to the less lucky in life giving away the time of their lives for the means to get more material crap which is ultimately without real value.. the time lost in this confusion is irretrievable..

why is this so difficult to grasp?

Peace!

[donradcliffe]

While I don't agree that working is a form of slavery, I agree with a lot of the OP's other views. Cruising is not just water sailing">blue water sailing, it is interacting with the locals when you arrive. The highlights of our RTW trip were going to places where the locals viewed us as an ambassador from another culture with whom they could exchange information, goods, and services for everyone's benefit.

If you are the first or even the fifth boat to arrive in a year, you are a welcome addition to local life. If you are the 100th boat to arrive in a week, you will be viewed as a source of income. These are generalities and there are exceptions in both cases, but its not hard to guess where the Caribbean fits in.

We enjoyed bartering in the South Pacific, and were disappointed to find that in Asia most things were back to a cash basis.

When people would ask for things, we usually said that we cannot give something for nothing, and suggest something in return which they were capable of giving, like fish or fruit or local crafts. That makes it easier on the next cruiser.

I'm not a fried chicken fanatic, but I really like chicken roti from a shack in Trinidad.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

While I don't agree that working is a form of slavery, I agree with a lot of the OP's other views. Cruising is not just blue water sailing, it is interacting with the locals when you arrive. The highlights of our RTW trip were going to places where the locals viewed us as an ambassador from another culture with whom they could exchange information, goods, and services for everyone's benefit.

If you are the first or even the fifth boat to arrive in a year, you are a welcome addition to local life. If you are the 100th boat to arrive in a week, you will be viewed as a source of income. These are generalities and there are exceptions in both cases, but its not hard to guess where the Caribbean fits in.

We enjoyed bartering in the South Pacific, and were disappointed to find that in Asia most things were back to a cash basis.

When people would ask for things, we usually said that we cannot give something for nothing, and suggest something in return which they were capable of giving, like fish or fruit or local crafts. That makes it easier on the next cruiser.

I'm not a fried chicken fanatic, but I really like chicken roti from a shack in Trinidad.

...I think you really put things in perspective and from real world experience.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Zephyrcat229

oh for the love of peat!
a lot of these folks act like they've never heard the term "Wage Slave." basically a compulsion toward materialism that leads to the less lucky in life giving away the time of their lives for the means to get more material crap which is ultimately without real value.. the time lost in this confusion is irretrievable..

why is this so difficult to grasp?

Peace!

When I was younger and "less lucky in life" I found the motivation to improve my situation via hard manual labor moving dirt, driving a delivery van and loading stuff 50-80 hours per week, I also went to school.

Working long hours doing crappy work can be a great motivator. I never considered my self a "work slave." It was a means to an end.

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

We can agree on that.

But you still have to make a choice between the lesser of two weevils


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[Zephyrcat229]

hey mac,
I agree with nothing wrong with working, I too have worked every job from Tecumseh to tokamkari and done epic school time as well. the lucky of us truly benefit from our labors, the less fortunate wind up wasting their lives, to varying degrees, to largely enrich others while they've burned their lifetimes up for others profit...

that's basic economics, externalize the cost of production, that most unskilled laborers waste a lot of their life for other's enrichment is a major flaw in capitalist orthodoxy.


the trick is to recognize the nature of the game and find where you're comfortable with the balance..

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Zephyrcat229

hey mac,
I agree with nothing wrong with working, I too have worked every job from Tecumseh to tokamkari and done epic school time as well. the lucky of us truly benefit from our labors, the less fortunate wind up wasting their lives, to varying degrees, to largely enrich others while they've burned their lifetimes up for others profit...

that's basic economics, externalize the cost of production, that most unskilled laborers waste a lot of their life for other's enrichment is a major flaw in capitalist orthodoxy.


the trick is to recognize the nature of the game and find where you're comfortable with the balance..

You've just described crony socialism.

Nothing lucky about the past 45 years of my life except for bargaining a great deal on our present boat. Nothing lucky about returning to the 50 hour per week work at the nuthouse in two months time to fund it.

How many local folks in foreign countries have you helped out by providing work lately? Here's a picture from about an hour ago. Two nice local fellows helping me diagnose and repair the genset. I'm sure if you asked them, they wouldn't say they felt enslaved..... Actually, they were taking the entire afternoon off to go to the beach.

[edmundsteele]

This is a recent photo of S/V Alexandra in Martinique, anchored below the fort in Fort-de-France. The picture was taken on 5/26/2016 and we stopped to chat to the captain. He complained to us that he had just been run out of St. Lucia by the authorities after he tried to obtain salvage on a capsized boat he had rescued. As you can see from the picture, the hull of Alexandra is heavily stained and looks like it too has been salvaged. When you compare this picture to the thumbnail on this website, you see it is the same boat but without the stains. He seems a nice enough guy but I think the captain would find the world a friendlier place if he could borrow a power washer for about an hour.

[krafthaus]

And he has a torpedo he pulls behind to sink any offending boats that come too close??!!


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[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by edmundsteele

This is a recent photo of S/V Alexandra in Martinique, anchored below the fort in Fort-de-France.

Threads talk about boats like this all the time. But it is normally during discussions of derelict boats in Florida or when some newbie comes on and asks "should I buy this boat".

While one may not have money to have a fancy boat, I bet there is lots of time to clean.

I feel bad for the other boats in the anchorage. Bet this is what they thought cruising in nice places would be like

[JPA Cate]

I think the captain would find the world a friendlier place if he could borrow a power washer for about an hour.

Yes, the way of the world is that the excessive discoloration does not create a good first impression.

Ann

[neilpride]

I meet really nice people on those discolored dirty boats as well I meet a lot of ******** in fancy expensive boats, just saying..

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by neilpride

I meet really nice people on those discolored dirty boats as well I meet a lot of ******** in fancy expensive boats, just saying..

Aint it true, nothing like lots of money to aid in an ******* certificate

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by neilpride

I meet really nice people on those discolored dirty boats as well I meet a lot of ******** in fancy expensive boats, just saying..

It's like walking into someone elses house with dog poop on your shoes, tracking it all around, and then wondering why you don't feel welcome.

'Might be the nicest person, but you only get one chance to make a first impression.

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

It's like walking into someone elses house with dog poop on your shoes, tracking it all around, and then wondering why you don't feel welcome.

'Might be the nicest person, but you only get one chance to make a first impression.

Ken this look is not uncommon for steel boats that need a sand blast and paint. For the budget group its a lot of money. R